At 9:22pm my phone rang. I knew who it was before I looked at the caller ID.

My grandmother was diagnosed with throat cancer in late March. They didn’t expect her to even make it this long. I flew up to Oregon over Easter to say my goodbyes and spend time with my family.

I got a call just 3 days ago that gramma wasn’t expected to last the night. But her heart kept beating. I made travel arrangements to go up there at this point, but held little hope that I would get to see her again.

As tears streamed down my cheek, my mother described her last seconds on earth. She opened her mouth and tried to speak. Just before her last breath, my father pointed out a single tear rolling down her cheek. She went the way that any person should have, surrounded by her family.

I’ll always remember going to her house in Fallbrook and sneaking in to the pantry for almond roca. She wore these huge clip on earrings that I would meticulously clip together. She always thanked me for that. She had an old 8 track player and I always got to choose what music played during dinner. She was an amazing poet. Every holiday and birthday I could always expect a personalized poem written by her. She lived an amazing 95 years.

I’ll be out of town all of next week, back on Friday afternoon. I should have access to email and my phone, but if I don’t get back to you right away, please be patient!

Charlotte Brennan McClure

January 11, 1912 – August 2, 2007